Preshute pupils learn about conservation in their very own rain garden

Written by Sue Round on 31 January 2018.

Charlotte Hitchmough, Director of ARK (Action for the River Kennet) with Year 4 pupils in the Preshute rain gardenChildren at Preshute Primary School will no longer be chanting the rhyme ‘Rain rain go away come again another day.’ Thanks to the generosity of volunteers and the expertise of ARK (Action for the River Kennet), the school now has its very own rain garden.

On January 30 the school held a parent coffee morning and special assembly to publicise the rain garden and to explain its importance to the local environment. Claire Graham, Headteacher, told marlborough.news, “The rain garden project has been amazing. It has transformed the front of the school. It was completely funded by volunteers and it’s a great way to teach the children about water conservation.”

The rain garden has rain chains, watermills and clear guttering which runs past the Year 3 classroom so the children can watch the rainwater. Garden designer Wendy Allen from Ramsbury has created her own ‘bendy Wendy’ design for the guttering in interesting shapes and in the school colours. The playground is now edged with wildflower turf and the welly shed has been given a sedum roof.

Charlotte Hitchmough, Director of ARK said, “I am keen to create rain gardens all over the place. A rain garden can be as simple or as complicated as you like. The aim is to slow down rain water and let it soak into the ground on your land, and keep the rain water out of sewers and drains. You can get a rebate from your water company if you don’t put rain water into the drains, and you will be helping the Kennet too.”

According to Charlotte, the advantages of rain gardens are manifold. Not only do they reduce water pollution and flooding and conserve water but they help to recharge the natural aquifer and keep rivers flowing through the summer. They also provide visual interest and a greater range of plants.